NORTHANTS PREMIER DIVISION: Town happier after a good spanking, Oundle have a fearless 15 year-old

David Clarke on his way to 82 for Peterborough Town against Stony Stratford. Photo: David Clarke.

It helped that, led by skipper David Clarke who made 82, Town’s batsmen played with greater discipline and skill and it helped that Leicestershire Academy fast bowler David Sayer was back in hostile action.

And it also helped that Stony appeared to have their minds elsewhere. That could actually have been true as they are surprise finalists in tomorrow’s (July 17) Northants Twenty/20 Finals day and they batted as through they couldn’t wait to get there.

Faced with Town’s imposing 50-over score of 227-7, but on a decent track and in batsman-friendly heat, Stony contrived to find themselves 48-6 after 10 overs before rallying slightly to make 98 all out in just 26 overs and five balls.

Lewis Bruce on his way to 42 for Peterborough Town against Stony Stratford. Photo: David Lowndes.

Sayer had them hopping around from the start and his excellent delivery that despatched Stony’s star man Teja Nidamanuru - the leading run scorer in the competition at the start of the day - for just four effectively sealed the visitors’ fate.

Sayer picked up 4-17 from seven overs, while Joe Dawborn and Mohammed Danyaal collected two apiece. Jamie Smith took his wicket in his first over, while Lewis Bruce claimed his victim from his only over.

Asim Butt (30 from, 28 balls) gave Town a fast start and a score in excess of 200 was confirmed by an 87-run stand for the fourth-wicket between Clarke and Bruce (43 from 46 balls including seven fours and a six).

The win moved Town up a place to fourth, but no nearer the top points-wise as the top three all won.

Scores

Town

A. Butt c Nidamanuru b Bryce 30

D. Clarke c Mitchell b Strong 82

A. Akhtar b Bryce 10

C. Milner c Pickles b Sohal 20

L. Bruce c Sohal b Strong 43

S. Howard not out 14

D. Sayer b Nidamanuru 10

K. Medcalf b Strong 6

Extras 12

TOTAL (7 wkts) 227

Bowling: A. Strong 13-0-78-3; D. Bryce 10-3-21-1; J. Whitehead 6-0-25-0; V. Sohal 9-0-46-1; T. Nidamanuru 12-0-49-1.

Stony Stratford

J. Pickles b Sayer 0

N. Allen b Dawborn 8

T. Nidamanuru c Milner b Sayer 4

V. Sohal b Dawborn 14

P. Chandran c Bruce b Sayer 15

J. Pretorious c and b Sayer 0

A. Ramesh lbw Bruce 25

A. Strong b Smith 8

B. Mitchell b Danyaal 0

D. Bryce not out 9

J. Whitehead b Danyaal 3

Extras 12

TOTAL 98

Bowling: D. Sayer 7-1-17-4; J. Dawborn 7-1-38-2; M. Danyaal 6.5-1-16-2; J. Smith 5-1-15-1; L. Bruce 1-0-8-1.

Oundle are edging their way to safety from relegation. They might end up grateful that a poor Wellingborough side are in a division that relegates just one side.

Oundle conceded 90 from the final 10 overs at Northampton Saints today - the team just above them in 10th - and a successful run chase of 249-4 was never likely, even though former captain Cameron Wake is back in the camp temporarily.

Wake made 50 to steer Oundle to safety from 113-5. Fearless 15-year-old James Esler made 47 from just 59 balls which included two sixes and eight fours.

Scores

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS drew with OUNDLE

Saints 249-4

Oundle 199-9 (C. Wake 50, J. Esler 47, M. Hodgson 31).